You're never too old to have a little Halloween fun. Halloween is the one day a year when you can dress like an outcast and still fit in.

This year's Halloween costume trends are moving away from the scary, traditional Halloween themes such as witches, ghosts and werewolves toward funny, creative, or fairytale themed costumes, said Manuel Lopez, a sales associate at the Costume Closet and Drama Bookstore in Salt Lake.

"People have been into more fairytale things - jesters, princesses, mermaids - lots of mermaids," Lopez said. "The teens are still into the gore. They still wear the bloody masks, scary makeup and stage blood."

Lopez said the majority of people buying the gory costumes are buying them to wear at the haunted houses.

Robbie Potter, a senior from Salt Lake City majoring in business management, said he has observed the same trend in Halloween costumes. "Costumes have gone away from being scary," he said.

Steering away from traditional Halloween costumes may be a result of students not wanting to be cliché. "I think there are too many witches," said Josh Jergensen, 22, a sophomore from San Diego, Calif., majoring in business.

The common association of witches with Halloween has an extensive history. Legends tell that witches gathered twice each year when the seasons changed, at the end of April and October. On All Hallow's Eve, Oct. 31, witches would arrive on broomsticks, casting spells and transforming figures to gather for a party hosted by the devil. From good to wicked, old with warts or gorgeous, witch costumes come in all different styles each Halloween. The popularity of the play "Wicked" is sure to add to the popularity of the classic witch costume this Halloween.

The belief that witches often transformed themselves into black cats created superstitions which started a new Halloween tradition. A relatively simple costume - wear black, draw whiskers on your face and you're cat - a few black cats are sure to cross your path on Halloween.

"I'm going to be Dave Nixon, number 43 of the BYU Cougars football team. He's my favorite football player," said Jergensen. "If I'm not him, I'll be Andrew George, number 88 on the football team."

Jergensen said he dresses up each year, "because it helps me feel like I'm a part of Halloween. It takes me back to my younger years." Jergensen recalls one of his favorite Halloween costumes was Dick Tracy, "That was a good one," he said.

As costume trends move from scary to fun, popular costumes are often inspired by movie or television characters. "The best one I've ever seen, or going to see this year, is Zack Morris from "Saved by the Bell,"" Jergensen said.

Lopez said students coming into the Costume Closet are purchasing pirate costumes, inspired by the popularity of "Pirates of the Caribbean." "Many that come in here are wanting to be Captain Jack Sparrow, so it's movie related," Lopez said. "Pirates have been the big one this year, lots of pirates. You're going to be running into a lot of them."

The Costume Closet has sold out all their dreadlock wigs to college students for either pirate or hippie costumes, Lopez said. "Hippies are also real popular," he said. "We've sold out of all our peace medallions, dreadlock wigs -- all the Bob Marley looking stuff -- tie-dyed t-shirts too."

Humor, rather than scare-factor, is on the mind of many students as they plan their Halloween costumes this year.

"Candy. That would be funny [as a costume] because everyone likes candy," said Ashley Rodgers, a freshman from Gainesville, Fla., majoring in French.

Many students find humor in choosing costumes that are polar-opposite to their personality. "The so-called pimp has been really popular with the big jewelry, big gaudy rings, big gold medallions and dollar signs," Lopez said. "It's the whole "bling-bling" thing. The gangsters, too, with the pin-striped suit and big tommy guns."

There isn't always time for creative costumes with the hectic college lifestyle. Some students look for the Halloween costume that requires the least amount of time and effort. "The masquerade costumes have been big too. They're the easiest to pull off. If you already have the dress, all you have to buy is a wig, boa and a mask. It's simple to put together and really elegant. I like the sophisticated look of it," Lopez said.

Regardless of costume trends, Halloween is in indiscriminate holiday. A costume is anything the wearer makes it to be.

Editor's Note: this story has been edited since being originally posted.

Copyright Brigham Young University 25 Oct 2006